Saturday, May 31, 2008

Senior Maoist leader Ram Bahadur Thapa 'Badal' said today that no alternative government is possible against the Maoists at the present context.

Senior Maoist leaders Ram Bahadur Thapa a.k.a. Badal Talking to the Nepalnews.com after a tea party hosted by the Maoist youth wing, 'Young Communist League (YCL), Badal said the attempts of making alternative government without the consent of the Maoists would be against the mandate of the people.

He also said that chairman Prachanda sould be 'constitutional president' if the Maoists were able to get the post of the president in addition to the post of Prime Minister.

Badal said that they were not ready to handover the post of the president to other parties as the Maoists won election by proposing chairman Prachanda as the first president of republic Nepal.

As the debate as whom Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala should submit his resignation after the provision in the interim constitution that the PM should submit resignation to the president, he said the Prime Minister Koirala should submit his resignation to the Constituent Assembly (CA).

The Maoist team led by Dr Baburam Bhattrai reiterated the party’s claim for both the presidency and premiership while the NC and UML leaders asserted that the same party could not lay claim over the two leading posts.

Likewise, according to the participants of the meeting, the three parties were nowhere closer to an agreement over an amendment in the constitution to change the two-thirds provision for deposing the prime minister.

The NC and UML want to introduce single majority provision while the Maoists want to go with the existing clause.

The parties also discussed the appointment of 26 constituent assembly members, but could not arrive at a consensus.

Maoist chairman Prachanda has derided the parties including Nepali Congress (NC) and Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) for what he called as their attempts to block Maoists ascent to power.

Prachanda asked the parties not to exhibit any more greed (for power). "They think that if Maoists come to power once, it will stick to it forever. But we have said that we are not like them," said Prachanda, addressing a public programme at Khula Manch. The programme is the first one held after the implementation of republic through the Constituent Assembly (CA).

Stating that the people have already given their mandate, he urged the parties to help the Maoists form the government. "But if they so desire, they can go ahead and form government on their own," he said.

He also chided the parties for proposing to make a president immediately. "Before the election they were not even uttering a word like president. But now they want to have a president. Earlier, they backed two-third provision (to form or unseat a government) but now they want to replace it with simple majority," he said.

Prachanda said he wants to make it clear to the parties that his party will never accept proposals that could land the country in the 'same old problem of horse-trading.'

"In an epoch-making transformation, we have become victorious, Nepali people have emerged victorious. Now we will fight to make a new Nepal," he said.

"Due to the foolishness of Gyanendra, republic has been established. If the NC and UML also continue demonstrating their foolishness, people's republic will be established," Prachanda said.

Addressing the same programme, senior Maoist leader Dr. Baburam Bhattarai urged the people to remain alert. "We have only won a battle. The war still remains to be won," he said

Thursday, May 29, 2008

After continuous pressure rallies by excited crowds of people, authorities have finally put up the national flag at the Narayanhiti palace where the royal flag used to fly until this morning.

The flag hoisting was done at 7:40 pm without any formal ceremony. The royal flag was removed from the main building this morning.

There were protests in and around Durbar Marg from early morning demanding that the government put up the national flag at the palace.

The Constituent Assembly had yesterday declared Nepal a federal democratic republic and instructed the government to order Gyanendra Shah to vacate the palace within 15 days.

The CA had also passed a motion introduced by the government to turn the sprawling palace into a national museum.The meeting of the political committee of the cabinet held on Thursday evening decided to dispatch a letter notifying the ex-King Gyanendra about the deadline of 15 days to evacuate the Narayanhity royal palace.

The meeting decided to dispatch the letter by Friday morning notifying about the decision of the first meeting of Constituent Assembly on Wednesday regarding the implementation of republic.

The government has announced public holiday on Thursday and Friday to celebrate the declaration of republic.

The first sitting of the Constituent Assembly (CA) this evening endorsed a proposal presented by the Prime Minister to implement ‘democratic republic’ by abolishing the monarchy.

Tens of thousands of people were on the streets in the capital throughout the day today to exert pressure on the CA to implement republic from the first sitting itself. Similar rallies were organised in different parts of the country

KATHMANDU (AFP) — A constitutional assembly in Nepal on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly in favour of abolishing the Himalayan nation's 240-year-old monarchy and declaring a republic, an official announced.

"The proposal for the implementation of a republic has been passed by a majority," a senior member of the 601-member body, Kul Bahadur Gurung, told the gathering.

He said 560 members of the Constituent Assembly voted in favour, with four opposed.

Nepal's fiercely-republican Maoists, who fought for 10 years to oust the unpopular King Gyanendra's Hindu dynasty and create a secular republic, won the largest single bloc of seats in the assembly in April elections.

The meeting is the culmination of a 2006 peace deal between the country's mainstream political parties and the rebels that brought to an end a civil war, which killed at least 13,000 people.

Officials said the parties will give King Gyanendra, who ascended to the throne after most of the royal family were massacred by a drunken prince in 2001, 15 days to vacate his Kathmandu palace.

The approved proposal states that Nepal will become "an independent, indivisible, sovereign, secular and an inclusive democratic republic nation."

"Nepal has turned into a democratic republic, all the existing laws and administrative functions that contradicts this idea will be invalidated from today," the text of the declaration reads.

"All the privileges enjoyed by the king and royal family will automatically come to an end," it says, also declaring May 29 as "Republic Day."

The declaration also states that Gyanendra's main palace will be transformed into a museum.

KATHMANDU, May 28 - Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula, on behalf of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, has tabled the proposal to implement the federal democratic republic in the country at the Constituent Assembly (CA) meeting at the Birendra International Convention Centre (BICC) on Wednesday night.

The CA members will vote on the proposal at the CA meeting. After the proposal is passed the country will be declared a federal democratic republic, ending the 240-year-old institution of monarchy, and the royal family will become common law abiding citizens with their special privileges slashed.

The government will immediately take initiatives to convert the Narayanhiti palace into a national museum

Unidentified persons detonated two bombs outside the Birendra International Convention Centre in Baneshwor, the venue of the Constituent Assembly (CA) meeting, Wednesday evening.

The first blast occurred near the western gate of the BICC at around 8:00 pm while another bomb went off ten minutes later. At least four people including a senior police official were injured in the incident.

Our correspondent present at the BICC premises said the noise of the blasts could be clearly heard from inside the Assembly hall.

Thousands of people had gathered outside the BICC to cheer the announcement of republic by the first CA meeting.

The bombs occurred just before the Assembly was about to get underway.

Similarly, one person was injured in a blast at Khula Manch, central Kathmandu, Wednesday evening.

It is not known who carried out the blast, but police officials said the Hindu fundamentalist outfit called Ranabir Sena that had taken responsibility for the blasts on Monday and Tuesday could be behind this.

The injured person has been taken to the nearly Bir Hospital for treatment

KATHMANDU, May 28 - After a nearly eight-hour delay, Wednesday’s much-anticipated first Constituent Assembly (CA) is about to kick off at the Birendra International Convention Centre (BICC) in the capital.The CA, elected through the landmark elections held last month, will formally announce the implementation of the federal democratic republic system in the country, ending the 240-year-old institution of monarchy.

In a meeting held at Baluwatar in the run-up-to the first CA sitting, the ruling Seven-Party alliance (SPA) agreed on a provision of a constitutional president who will be entrusted to execute his duties on the recommendations of the cabinet.

The 601-member CA will be entrusted with the responsibility of writing a new constitution and ushering the country to a new era.

KATHMANDU, May 28 - The much-anticipated first Constituent Assembly meeting slated for 11 Wednesday morning has been postponed after the political parties failed to unanimously agree on some key CA issues.

It is expected the CA meeting will be held at 6 pm today having been pushed back from 3 pm and then again from 4:30 pm.

Rallies and celebrations have begun across the country Wednesday with large number of people participating to welcome the announcement of republic.

People welcome the 'Republic Nepal' at a morning rally organised by... Civil society activists and human rights groups rallied through Basantapur to Baneshwor early today. The rally converged outside Birendra International Convention Centre (BICC) from where the constituent assembly will declare Nepal a republic later today.

Civil society organisations are also holding rallies in major cities around the country including Pokhara and Biratnagar.

Similar events were held on Tuesday as well. Nepal Bar Association (NBA) lit candles at its office Tuesday evening while pro-republic artists performed at the Open Theatre the same day.

The political parties have asked its cadres and sister organisations to organise rallies and demonstration to celebrate the historical event

The leaders of three big parties have agreed to turn the Narayanhity royal palace into national museum after the implementation of republic on Wednesday through the Constituent Assembly meeting, according to a senior leader.

Jhalnath Khanal, general secretary of the Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) told reporters, Tuesday that the Nepali Congress, UML and Maoists have agreed to turn the royal palace into national museum rather than the official residence of president.

“The palace will be turned into national museum. A separate residence for president will have to be found out,” Khanal said.

Khanal said that on Wednesday the CA will direct the government to implement republic.

“It will direct the government to implement the republic. Beginning Wednesday, all privileges and perks to the King will be ended,” he said.

At least five persons were injured in a bomb blast at Ratna Park in central Kathmandu Tuesday evening.

The explosion occurred at around 4:30 pm, near the venue of a cultural programme organised by the civil society to welcome the republic.

Two seriously injured persons have been taken to nearby Bir Hospital for treatment. Police said manhunt for those involved in the blast has begun.

A little known Hindu fundamentalist outfit Ranabir Sena has claimed responsibility for the blast.

The explosion took place couple of hours after the constituent assembly members were sworn in. The same group had detonated two crude bombs in front of the Birendra International Convention Centre (BICC) on Monday

KATHMANDU, May 27 (Xinhua) -- After three-day negotiations, the top leaders of the three largest Nepali parties in the Constituent Assembly (CA) on Tuesday agreed to a provision for ceremonial president and executive prime minister following the declaration of Nepal as a republic through the first CA meeting slated for Wednesday.

KATHMANDU, May 27 - The newly elected Constituent Assembly (CA) members are due to be sworn-in Tuesday at Birendra International Convention Center (BICC) in the capital.

All the necessary preparations have been made for the swearing-in ceremony to be held this afternoon and all the elected CA members have been invited at the BICC, parliament secretariat informed.However, the 26 CA members to be nominated by the cabinet are yet to be finalised.

The cabinet is due to nominate the 26 CA members as per the understanding among the major political parties representing the CA.

Meanwhile, 5 CA members of different parties have won the elections from two constituencies under First-Past-the-Post and the CA court has issued an order not to allow two CA members at the swearing-in ceremony as cases have been filed against them for their involvement in vote rigging.

The CA court issued such orders against Sarat Singh Bhandari, Madhesi People’s Right’s Forum (MPRF)’s winner from Mohattarri constitueny-6 and Bisamlal Adhikari winner candidate of CPN-UML from Sindhuli constituent-1 after cases were filed against them for rigging vote during the elections and vote counting.

Altogether 568 members are participating in the swearing-in ceremony today.

CA member from Rautahat district, Baban Singh, who has been accused of involvement in explosions in various places including in the capital during the SPA rally, has also been invited to attend the ceremony, the parliament secretariat informed.

After three days of intense behind the scene negotiations, the top leaders of the three largest parties in the Constituent Assembly - CPN (Maoists), Nepali Congress and Unified Marxist Leninist – have on Tuesday finally agreed to provision for ceremonial president and executive prime minister following the declaration of the country as a republic through the first meeting of Constituent Assembly slated for Wednesday.

In a meeting that resumed Tuesday morning at Prime Minister's official residence in Baluwatar, there was breakthrough in the protracted talks after CPN (Maoist) party, which is poised to lead the next government, finally relented and agreed to provision for a ceremonial president to serve as the country's Head-of-state.

The discussions from Sunday dragged on till today after Maoists had been remaining firm on their stance on either executive president or prime minister serving both as executive chief as well as officiating Head-of-State till new constitution is drafted.

"As per the agreement, the president can exercise his powers to resolve any constitutional or political deadlock and fulfill other normal presidential responsibilities. The three parties have also agreed that all executive powers would be vested on the prime minister," said Jhalnath Khanal, general secretary of the UML.

The parties have also decided to recommend the government to give public holiday from May 28-30, declaring it as a national celebration to herald the republican set up in the country.

The top leaders had broken off their talks on Monday after the Maoist side took a firm stance against constitutional amendment, arguing that there is no need to amend the two-thirds provision in it for deposing the Prime Minister

According to Khanal, after the first meeting of the CA implements republic on Wednesday, there will be a one week recess before another meeting will take place. "During that one week, we intend to resolve other major differences like on the issue of amending constitution to replace two-third provision with simple majority and so on," Khanal said.

He said that following the republic implementation, the royal flag will be replaced with national flag at the royal palace

Monday, May 26, 2008

An exclusive interview with CPN (Maoist) leader Prachanda by MRZine (reposted by Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal with permission).

By Mary Des Chene and Stephen Mikesell

It is 14th Jeth, 2065, [Tuesday May 27, 2008] in Nepal, the day before the constituent assembly is to convene and declare Nepal a full republic. The king remains in his palace. The form of the new government, who will lead it, whether the old parliamentary parties will join in a Maoist-led government or, as they have indicated so far, will boycott and try to isolate it -- these and other basic questions remain to be resolved.

The following is an early morning interview with CPN (Maoist) leader Prachanda, before he embarked on a last intensive round of negotiations to try to bring the parliamentary parties into a coalition government under Maoist leadership.

Kathmandu, May 27, 2008.

You may become Nepal's new head of state within a few days, but the parliamentary parties are putting up a lot of blockades. Yesterday your party put forth a 9-point proposal to address the current political impasse. What are the main barriers to formation of a CPN (Maoist)-led government at this point? What are the challenges and what are the proposals you've made to the parliamentary parties?

Intensive debate, discussion and struggle is going on, on the question of formation of the government, and mainly on the questions of the head of the state and the head of the government. These questions raise so many ideological and political issues, involving the class interests of the parties.

Yesterday we had a very serious discussion. The parliamentary parties, mainly the Nepali Congress and the CPN (UML), want to have their own person be the head of state. They want to check, they want to block our party from forming the government and filling the position of head of state. Therefore intensive struggle is going on right now. As we discuss these issues with the leaders of the other parties, it seems to me that intensive and serious class struggle is going on, on the level of ideology and political line. Because we have the status of the largest party through the constituent assembly election, the initiative is in our hands, but nevertheless intensive struggle continues. I think that by tomorrow we'll not be able to have consensus about the questions of the head of state and the formation of the government. Therefore right now we are thinking that we'll make an agreement only for the declaration of the republican system. And on that there will be consensus -- there should be consensus.

Your party has a clear mandate from the election to form the next government. The transitional government of the past two years has functioned on the basis of political consensus governed by the Seven Party Alliance accords and other formal agreements. From election day onward you've stressed the CPN (Maoist) commitment to continue with coalition government under those accords. The major parliamentary parties have set a number of conditions for participating in a Maoist-led coalition government, several of which you've stated directly contravene signed accords. At this point, if a coalition government under your party's leadership cannot be formed, what will be the main reasons?

I think that before the elections the parliamentary parties, especially the largest parliamentary party, the Nepali Congress, never expected that we would become the largest party through the election. Therefore they made so many agreements and compromises with our party, like those concerning the questions of a two-thirds majority and a simple majority [to change the government]. At that time they were in the leadership. Therefore they thought that a two-thirds majority requirement for changing the government would be just fine. But later on, when they saw that the Maoists had become the largest party and were going to lead the government and be head of the state, then they changed their position. Now they hold that a simple majority should be the means to change the government. Previously, up until the election, they didn't expect that they would lose through the election, and they thought that they could easily disintegrate our organisational structure and exert control over the PLA [People's Liberation Army] cadres and so on. But now, after the election, they think that it is going to be a very serious question. Therefore now they are making a proposal that our arms should be destroyed, and the PLA cadres should be disbanded or they should join vocational training or something like that. They're trying to raise those kinds of ridiculous things. This is against the peace agreement. This is against the spirit of the interim constitution.

The major parliamentary party, the Nepali Congress, has changed their positions after the election and are showing themselves to be against peace. It is going to be proved -- I think within some days, maybe within one or two weeks -- it will be crystal clear that the major political parliamentary parties are against peace, against any kind of change, against forming a coalition government under the leadership of the Maoists. They are against the people's mandate, you know. It will be clear. If they will not move ahead in keeping with the spirit of the interim constitution, if they will not follow the peace agreement we have already made and all the other agreements and accords, ultimately it seems to me that it is a question of class outlook. The opposing classes are struggling in a very new contest. And one thing that is quite clear is that the proletariat and our revolutionary party have taken the initiative in our own hands. They [Nepali Congress and UML] are the losers. Right now, in this battle, in this electoral battle, they are the losers and we are the winners. Therefore a big debate and discussion and struggle is going on.

If they were successful in disbanding your army, how would that affect the possibility of creating the republic?

It would be very difficult. But I think they have already agreed to implement the republican system from the first meeting of the constituent assembly.

Right. But if your army was not there, then what force would you have against the king [who] remains in the background?

We will not disband our army. How could we agree to disband our army or destroy our arms? It has been formally agreed that both the armies should be integrated and a new national army should be established and organised. And we have never agreed to go with DDR, you know, this DDR formula [Disarmament, Demobilisation, Reintegration] . What we said is that, here in Nepal it is quite necessary that both armies should be integrated to form a new army. It is the essence of our agreement. Now, when they see that the Maoists have won the election, they want to change the previous agreement. Therefore at the moment we do not want to focus our discussion with the parliamentary parties on the questions of integration and so on. We want to focus our discussions on the questions of implementation of the republic and the republican system.

It is quite clear, and the masses know it very well, the masses are clear that the first sitting of the constituent assembly will implement the republican system and even all the parliamentary parties have already agreed to go with the republican system. In this phase of the struggle, we Maoists want to focus our whole effort to implement that previous agreement. I think that they cannot reject or retreat from the previous agreement on the question of the republic. If they hesitate to implement this republican system tomorrow then ... It is going to happen you know. This is the historical turning point against the feudal system. If they will hesitate, I think that they will be crossed by the masses. The masses will not tolerate them. Because they have already lost through the election. If they hesitate to implement the republican system, then they will lose yet more, you see.

Tomorrow. on the day when the constituent assembly sits to declare the republic, the Kathmandu District Administration has declared restrictions on marches, rallies and assembling on the streets surrounding the convention centre, the palace and other places in the capital. But many marches and cultural programs have already been announced, and the people seem sure to come out, whether to ensure that their will is carried out or just to celebrate. How are you viewing that move to restrict the people's movement?

We have already decided to hold rallies all over the country. There will be mass rallies in all seventy-five district headquarters. And here in Kathmandu there will also be a victory rally, a republican rally. It will be a great day for us, for the people of this country. But they will not go to encircle the palace, or go near the Birendra International Convention Centre hall where the first meeting of the constituent assembly is going to be held. But they will be in the streets, near Singhadarbar [the usual parliamentary venue] and in other places. They'll be chanting slogans in favor of the republic and so on. But there will not be -- we are trying our best not to be in a confrontation tomorrow. It would not be good, it would not be proper to have any kinds of confrontation tomorrow. We want to show the masses who are in favor of the republican line. There will be a festive atmosphere. It will be like a people's festival, a republican festival. It will be very big, and a great thing for our people. But some reactionary people, mainly those who are loyal to the monarchy, they are trying to carry out some sorts of sabotage and some sorts of terrorist activities. Yesterday they exploded some small socket bombs near the convention center hall, and in the houses of civil society figures. But I don't think they will be able to create some big sabotage or anything.

If you have to form a sole government without the cooperation of the other parties are you ready to do that?

Yes. If they are not ready, and if they want it so, then we'll form our own government without their cooperation. They may think that within three months or a hundred days -- there's the saying that 100 days is the honeymoon -- that after the honeymoon they can encircle us and dismantle our government. They think like that. But we believe that once we are in the government we'll take so many decisions, important decisions, in favour of the masses of the people and in favor of our nation, and that those kinds of decisions will allow us to have a broader mass base and broader organisation and will ultimately help us to move ahead.

You've used the term "economic revolution" and said that after forming the government the task is economic revolution. Tell us a bit about your first steps; the economy is in very bad shape.

Yes, I think that economic development and sustainable peace have a very compact relation. Without having development it is very difficult to have a sustainable peace. And here in our country there are huge natural resources: for example, we have a huge hydro potential, tourism can be a big industry in this country, this beautiful country. There are so many things we can do.

For the time being what we are seeing is that we should have to follow a mixed economic system. I also want to qualify that it is not exactly a mixed economic system; we are trying to develop some new approaches in our transitional economic policy. We have not completed the democratic revolution, you know. We are in the process of the completion of the democratic revolution. But after 10 years of peoples war we have achieved some political and some socioeconomic change, which is already in process. Because that revolution is in the transitional phase we are trying to develop some new tactics and new policy according to the overall economic situation and national situation of the first decades of the 21st century. Therefore we shall have to follow a transitional economic policy. Not exactly the economic policy of the New Democracy, not exactly the economic policy of the bourgeois system, but something in-between. We are saying that this is a transitional economic policy, and we want to decide our own priority by ourselves.

And we want to encourage the national capitalist, or ``national bourgeois'' as we say, we want to encourage them to invest and to generate employment, and to invest in the industrial sector, which will create some new possibilities. And through them we want to attract the foreign investment, but according to our decision, according to our priority. Until now, all the decisions have been taken not by the Nepali people and the Nepali government, but by the foreigners and international institutions, like the World Bank. But this time we want to change that pattern. We want to decide our own priorities, we want to encourage our national bourgeois to have a conducive atmosphere for investment and generation of employment, and through them we want to attract the foreign investors according to our decision, according to our priority. In the rural area and in the hydro sector we want to have small hydro projects, medium-level hydro projects, and big hydro projects. Not just the large ones.

One problem is that you are being handed over a practically bankrupt state, one heavily in debt, and that won't leave you much leeway, at least if you work in the old terms, so how are you going to address that?

I think it is a challenge, and we are taking it as a positive challenge. The first question is to mobilise the millions of the masses to rebuild this country. Until and unless we mobilise the masses, nothing can be done. We will transparently divulge everything to the mass of the people: this is the situation here in the country, the world government and world state has led this country to this bankruptcy. Now, if everyone of this country, every citizen of this country will not make a commitment to go ahead to build the country themselves, it will be very difficult for us sustain and undertake development. Therefore our first priority will be to educate the masses of people about the real situation of the government and all these things that have happened in the past.

The second point is that we will try our best to mobilise the national bourgeois, the national capitalists. There are so many people who can contribute. If we draw up a scientific plan, an economic plan, according to our situation, we can mobilise those industrialists and those national capitalists or national bourgeois to invest in a more productive way. And I also think that, because we are in between China and India, both of which have very fast growing economies, we can benefit from their growing economies. I myself have tried my best to have serious discussions with China's Communist Party and China's government. How can they help to rebuild this country? How much will they be able to contribute, and how far can they mobilise their peoples to invest here in our country? And we were also talking with the Indian parties and Indian government officials: how can they contribute to our efforts in rebuilding this country? So I think that from both these countries, according to our plan and according to our priorities, we can mobilise positive economic input.This is something challenging, we know it, but this is something beneficial for this country.

What about the role of the youth of this country in all of these plans? The thousands who are migrant labourers outside the country, now the thousands and thousands who are unemployed here, and the Young Communist League, your own youth organisation?

Yes, we are working on drawing up a plan to mobilise the youth in rebuilding this country. Our YCL has already been mobilised: thousands and thousands of youth were mobilised before the election in a political mobilisation. Now we are going to mobilise them in the constructive work, in economic development. And we are also trying to make a connection with all the people working outside the country. Non-resident Nepalis are there, and the organisation of non-resident Nepalis; those people can contribute more in rebuilding this country, and we want to invite them to invest here in Nepal. We have already developed a plan for how we can mobilise thousands of peoples who are outside the country, who are doing business elsewhere. Some of them have done a very good job, they have earned substantial amounts of money, they can invest here, and we can contact them.

And also I think that we can bring back youth who are in Arab countries and all over the world, if we have a plan for building this country. I have already discussed some hydro power, medium-level hydro projects. And if there will be five, six or seven of such kinds of project all over the country, we can mobilise thousands and thousands of youth in that kind of project. And when they see that there are jobs in our own country, they will come back and we can mobilise that kind of youth.

And what about bringing young people back into agriculture, which is the base of the economy here?

Yes, we have already agreed to carry out scientific land reform. Here in Nepal there is a different situation in the Tarai [lowland plains], in mountainous areas and in the hilly regions. We have to make a complete plan of land reform for the hilly region, for the Himalayan region and for the Tarai. But the main focus of this scientific land reform will be the Tarai because the bulk of the agricultural land is there. There should be land ceilings and the land of absentee landlords should be redistributed among the peasants.

But our main focus will be commercialising the farming. Without commercialised farming we can't develop agriculture. And we want to establish agro-based industries. We can't mobilise the youth in the agricultural sector with only the traditional ways of farming. We have to create something new by creating jobs in agro-based industry. And that will ultimately commercialise the overall farming, and it will be a revolutionary step to raise the living standards of the people.

KATHMANDU (AFP) — Nepal's Maoists said Monday they were pouring tens of thousands of members of their feared youth wing into the capital ahead of this week's anticipated abolition of the monarchy.

The mobilisation comes as authorities said they were boosting security in Kathmandu to enforce a ban on demonstrations -- both for and against the embattled King Gyanendra.

A top Maoist official said the former rebels only intended to "celebrate" the king's demise and would respect security restrictions -- which would bar them from attempting to lay siege or storm the royal palace.

"We are going to bring in 50,000 Young Communist League members to celebrate the declaration of a republic on Wednesday," said Sagar, the head of the Maoists' youth wing, who goes by one name.

"This is going to be a celebration and a display of our strength and our victory. But we will stay away from prohibited areas," he told AFP.

Authorities in the capital said they have banned demonstrations and mass meetings in four places around Kathmandu and are planning to deploy an extra 5,000 security personnel.

"The government has announced special prohibitory orders from today that forbid rallies or protests in certain sensitive areas including the royal palace and the constituent assembly venue," said Kathmandu police chief Sarbendra Khanal.

A new constitutional assembly -- which the Maoists won the most seats in during elections in April -- is due to formally abolish the monarchy on Wednesday.

The end of the 240-year-old Shah dynasty will be a major victory for the Maoists, who launched a "people's war" in 1996 aimed at toppling the monarchy and establishing a communist republic.

But tensions are still high, with the king seen as enjoying some support in the national army and the country's ruling elite.

KATHMANDU, May 26 - At least two minor bombs went off near the southern gate of Birendra International Convention Center (BICC) at 5.30 Monday evening.However, the bombs that went off at both sides of the main entrance of the office of United Nation’s Mission in Nepal resulted in no damages.

Eye witnesses said that two person riding a motorcycle hurled the socket bombs outside the gate from the main road.

Police have found a pamphlet with the name GPF-Ranbir Sena at the incident site.

The group GPF-Ranbir Sena associates itself with Hindu religion and has been responsible for other such blasts in the past demanding the continuation of the country as a Hindu nation, police informed.

The blasts come on the eve of the swearing-in ceremony of the Constituent Assembly members, which is taking place at the BICC complex.

KATHMANDU, Nepal — A bomb has exploded outside a convention centre in Nepal's capital of Kathmandu.

No injuries or serious damage are reported. But the blast, at the Birendra International Convention Centre, comes just days ahead of the formal abolition of Nepal's centuries-old monarchy. An assembly that is to remove the king and declare Nepal a republic is to meet at the convention centre Wednesday.

Demonstrations were also barred near Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's house and the convention centre.

"There was no damage but police have stepped up security. We suspect it was targeted towards the assembly meeting," police spokesman Sarbendra Khanal said of the explosion.

Gyanendra belongs to the 239-year-old Shah dynasty, which dates to 1769 when a regional ruler conquered Kathmandu and united Nepal.

He is expected to move to his private home where he lived before becoming king in 2001 following a massacre at the royal palace.

Gyanendra assumed the throne after his elder brother Birendra was gunned down by his son Dipendra, along with several members of the royal family on June 1, 2001.

Gyanendra has been an unpopular figure since he seized absolute power in 2005. Weeks of pro-democracy protests in 2006 forced him to give up his authoritarian rule, and since then he has lost all his powers and command of the army.

In January, Nepal's interim parliament formally declared the country a secular state. Gyanendra's portrait has disappeared from shop walls and the currency. "Royal" has been removed from the name of the army and national airline, and references to the king are gone from the national anthem.

Maoist chairman Prachanda has blasted what he called as efforts to derail the past agreements.

"Efforts are being made to derail the past agreements after the election, be it the issue of army integration or be it the issue of government formation," Prachanda said, addressing a programme organised by Krishna Sen Online.

The programme was organized in memory of Sen, a journalist, who was killed at the hands of the state forces during the conflict.

"There are efforts being made to divert away from peace agreements," he said.

Saturday, May 24, 2008

A senior Maoist leader has said his party would not accept Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala as either the next president or the prime minister.Ram Bahadur Thapa aka Badal

Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal said that Maoists would lead the next government as per the people’s mandate and will resist any efforts to block them from doing so.On the issue of Young Communist League (YCL), Badal said the organisation would be expanded rather than dissolved as demanded by other parties.

Badal also rejected the conditions put forth by Nepali Congress (NC) and other parties. He said the conditions will be counterproductive to Congress.Badal also added that legal action would be initiated against the King if he did not leave the palace after the abolition of monarchy.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala today formally called upon Maoist chairman Prachanda to take initiation, as the head of the largest party in the Constituent Assembly (CA), to form a new government.

Koirala made this call during a meeting of three main parties - CPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN (UML) - at his residence in Baluwatar Saturday.

"The Prime Minister who also acts as head of the state has asked Prachanda to take initiation for a new government in accordance with the constitution," peace minister and NC vice-president Ram Chandra Poudel told reporters after the meeting.

According to him, the meeting dwelled on issues like formation of the government, amendment in the Interim Constitution, nomination of 26 CA members and appointment of a 'ceremonial president', but no decision was taken.

Another round of tripartite meeting will take place in Baluwatar Sunday morning to discuss these issues. In that meeting, Maoist chairman Prachanda will provide an outline on how consensus for a unity government,and other issues, could be built, Poudel informed.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Kathmandu: Nepal's besieged King Gyanendra has left the Narayanhity royal palace from where his ancestors had ruled for generations, probably his final exit as the last king of a nearly 250-year dynasty.

"The king left the palace for his summer residence Nagarjuna palace (about eight kilometres north of Kathmandu) around 9 p.m. Thursday," said Kishore Shrestha, editor of the Nepali weekly Jana Aastha.

Nepal's King Gyanendra is preparing to quit the Narayanhiti royal palace in Kathmandu soon, just days ahead of a key meeting of the Constituent Assembly on May 28 is expected to dethrone him.

Gyanendra was likely to move to Nagarjun Palace, some eight kilometers north of Kathmandu, where he will stay for few days before heading to Nirmal Niwas, his private residence situated in Maharajgunj on the outskirts of the capital, a vernacular daily said.

The Telegraph Nepal online reported the Gorkhapatra vernacular daily - the state owned media, as saying that "it is highly likely that Nepal's King Gyanendra will vacate the royal palace at the earliest" in an effort to avoid the possible confrontation with the thousands of Maoists cadres who have been summoned to Kathmandu by the CPN-Maoist to surround the royal palace in heart of Kathmandu.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

The Maoists have finally received the green signal they have been looking for, with four major parties in the Constituent Assembly - Nepali Congress, CPN (Unified Marxist Leninist), Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) and Terai Madhesh Loktantri Party (TMLP) - agreeing to allow the Maoist party, which has emerged as the biggest party through the Constituent Assembly election, to take over the reins of the new government.

An understanding to this effect was reached at a meeting of the aforesaid four parties in Singha Durbar Thursday.

The four parties have also decided to urge Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to invite the CPN-Maoist to form the new government, stressing that the Maoists should immediately start the process for the formation of the new government.

NC leader and Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Ram Chandra Poudel, who was one of the participants at the meeting, told reporters after the meeting that the four parties also agreed to "resolve the constitutional crisis" through an amendment in the interim constitution. He said that the likely composition of the next government was also discussed at the meeting.

A meeting of five parties, CPN-M included, is to take place in the evening. Top leaders of NC, CPN (UML) and MJF had agreed on Wednesday to form a common stance on future power sharing -- ceremonial president after the abolition of monarchy - and amendment of the interim constitution so that a government can be formed and removed through a simple majority in the Constituent Assembly rather than the existing provision of it needing 2/3rd majority.

However, the Maoists are clearly against both these ideas and have vowed to oppose it.

In a sign that they are losing patience with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and are eager to head the new government, CPN (Maoist) party has decided to submit a "proposal" at the meeting of the Council of Ministers requesting that the party be invited to form the next government.

The decision to this effect was taken at the Central Secretariat Meeting of the CPN (Maoist) party held at the party headquarters under the aegis of party chairman Prachanda Thursday morning.

"Since after the conclusion of the Constituent Assembly election the current government headed by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has automatically become a caretaker government, the Prime Minister will be requested that he should clarify his position and immediately invite CPN (Maoist), which has emerged as the largest party, to form a new government," reads the statement issued by Chairman Prachanda making public the decisions made by the central secretariat.

The meeting also decided to form a three-member probe committee headed by Central Secretariat member Post Bahadur Bogati to investigate the murder of businessman Ramhari Shrestha. Other members of the committee include central committee member Hitraj Pandey and state committee member Ekraj Bhandari. The statement adds that the party will take action against anyone found guilty as per the report of the committee.

The meeting also decided that relief and compensation would be made available as per the understanding with the family of Shrestha. It also decided to request the government to form high level probe committee to investigate the incident.

C.P Gajurel, a member of the Secretariat and head of the party's foreign relations bureau, said that the proposal is being tabled to "open way" for the formation of a new government under the leadership of the CPN (Maoist) party.

Meanwhile, Maoist ministers in the current cabinet has issued a joint statement urging the Prime Minister not to take any decision with far-reaching impact at this juncture.

The cabinet meeting is scheduled to take place this afternoon at Prime Minister's Office in Singhadurbar.

The cabinet meeting is also set to pass an ordinance for swearing in the members of the Constituent Assembly

A day after the kin of Shrestha - who it appears was killed by some members of CPN Maoist in PLA captivity - organised valley bandh demanding immediate action against Shrestha's killers, Prachanda invited Shrestha's wife Ramila and brother Gyan Kumar Shrestha for talks at a hotel in Thamel.

Reports say Prachanda assured them that the party will thoroughly probe the killing of Shrestha.

Prachanda also promised to take initiative to form high level investigation commission from government level.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Maoist chairman Prachanda held consultations with leaders of Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) including its general secretary with an aim to break the political deadlock.

Emerging from the talks held late in the evening, Tuesday, Prachanda told reporters that he held 'very positive' discussions on the issues of republic implementation, power sharing, constitutional amendment as well as the issue of killing of Ramhari Shrestha, a resident of Koteshwore, by Maoist cadres.

"We talked about the scientific power sharing and also the constitutional amendment. We also discussed the recent incident of Koteshwore. We believe that the government should form a high level commission to investigate the incident. We are ready to support in the investigation and taking of action against the guilty ones," Prachanda said.

Likewise, UML general secretary Jhalnath Khanal told reporters that they held extensive discussion on the continued attacks by Maoists against workers of other parties and also on the Koteshwore incident.

"We have demanded that they immediately cease such activities. Regarding Koteshwore incident, they must help bring the guilty persons to justice," Khanal said.Earlier, leaders of NC and UML had also held bilateral talks to break the political impasse

United We Blog for a Democratic Nepal have published a story about Maoist disagreements over whether Barburam Bhattarai or Chairman Prachanda should be Prime Minister and the source of disagreements appears to be an secretary to Baburam Bhattarai Bishwodeep Pandey.

http://blog.com.np/

It is natural that such discussions should take place in CPN Maoist has Bhattarai was head of the parallel Maoist Government in the Countryside.

Chairman Prachanda or Bhattarai would be eminently suitable for the job of Prime Minister. However these discussions of disagreements at this sensitive time should be kept within the CPN Maoist and not feed the rumour mongering of the opponents of CPN Maoist in the media.

On Saturday 17th May Democracy and Class Struggle said

These are again testing times for the CPN Maoist and it is important that they continue to hold the strategic initiative on the question of the formation of the government following their resounding Electoral victory.

They also need to maintain discipline amongst the YCL and Party members so that unforseen local events do not blow them of course.

The countdown to the Republic will bring disparate opposition elements together and the US will not fail to maximise any opportunity to undermine CPN Maoist has history has demonstrated.

However the CPN Maoist has a history of concrete analyisis of concrete conditions to guide their response to challenges but vigilance has to be the watchword prior to declaration of Republic

With the recent events including the Koteshwore incident discipline within the CPN Maoist does not appear to be as good as it should be at this critical time.

We hope this talk of divisions promoted by the enemies of CPN Maoist is vigourously combatted and Chairman Prachanda and Bhattarai ensure that not just themselves but any erstwhile supporters follow agreed democratic party decisions and do not become dupes of enemies of Nepalese Democracy who are waiting in the wings

Monday, May 19, 2008

CPN (Maoist) Chairman Prachanda said on Monday that the great sacrifice made by Gautama Buddha should serve as a lesson for everybody to make similar gesture from their sides to take the peace process to its logical conclusion.

Prachanda, who is preparing to head the next Maoist led government, said that at this critical juncture no one should forget the sacrifice made by Buddha, who in spite of being a son of a King, had left the palace.

Speaking at a programme organised by International Buddhist Federation on the eve of 2552nd birthday of Lord Buddha in his birthplace Lumbini, Prachanda said that all political parties should unite to push ahead the peace process and implement the republican agenda, not on some foreign intimidation or pressure, but as per the wishes of the Nepali people.

The Maoist hairman further said that his party is very responsible and committed to the peace process, claiming that "after coming to Lumbini this feeling got further emboldened".

Stating that after the implementation of the republican agenda the country would tread the path of "economic revolution", he affirmed that only if this happens there would be a sustainable peace in the country. He also clarified that the decade-long war was fought for "sustainable peace, equality and republic set up" and so it was a "peace war" (war for peace).

"To term it Maoist insurgency and not as People's War would be an injustice to the history," he thundered.

Speaking at the same programme, newly appointed CPN (UML) general secretary Jhal Nath Khanal asked chairman Prachanda to direct his cadres to "tread the path shown by the peace process" by immediately stopping their highhandedness. Khanal also said that with the end of monarchy in the country the era of conflict will end and peace would be established in the country.

Similarly, coordinator of Mahesi Janadhikar Forum Upendra Yadav said that the peace process would reach to its logical conclusion if the agreements signed in the past were abided by in letter and spirit, adding that no body can secure a victory through wars and weapons.

The organisers said the main objective of holding the programme was to make all political party leaders express their commitment towards sustainable peace.

Besides the political party leaders, Buddhist monks and nuns from Nepal and many other countries participated in the ceremony organised on the eve of the 2552nd birthday of Gautama Buddha.

CP Gajurel, In-charge, International Bureau, Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist

What are the major problems that CPN-Maoist has to face in the national and international context after the landslide victory in the election constituent Assembly?

After the completion and result coming out of the election of the Constituent Assembly (CA), our party has been victorious and has become established as the single largest party in the CA, That is a victory not only for the people of Nepal but also it has to be considered as the victory for the oppressed people of the world. But it is not the final victory and it doesn't mean that we don't have any more challenges. We still have big challenges. In spite of our victory, the other parties are not ready to hand over power to our party and there is still a debate going on regarding who will be the Prime Minister and who will be the President.

Also, a debate is on how the major posts should be divided among major three parties.Secondly, some powers didn't want the Maoist to be the single largest party; they didn't want the Maoist to become victorious on the election. They are still trying to create hurdles, firstly to the formation of a government, and secondly, if the government is formed, they will try to create problems so that the Maoist government cannot run smoothly.

Because of the scarcity of things, goods and materials, there will be discontent among the masses and the Maoist will not be able to run the government well. These are challenges before us. But, as we are have the support of millions and millions, we have the support of the masses of Nepal and of billions of people around the world. We are confident that we will be able to meet the challenges.

The victory of CPN-M in the election of CA is the victory of the Proletarian class. In history, the Bolsheviks under the leadership of Comrade Lenin held a CA election, but were defeated. Here in Nepal, the CPN-M has been victorious. What message does it convey to the international community?

Yes, during the time of Russian Revolution, it happened during CA election. Because the Menshevik and Socialist Revolutionaries (SRs) were strong at all levels, together they were able to get a majority of seats. The Bolsheviks had to be satisfied with minority seats.

After this situation, Lenin decided to continue the revolution and dismantled the CA. Because the rightists and opportunists were really the agents of the capitalist class, they didn't allow the Proletariat to form a new constitution; there was a deep risk to the Bolshevik party, a risk that revolution would have been smashed.

But now the situation is quite different. We were able to win in over half in the first past the post election system. We were not able to get the majority in the proportional election but our party has become the single largest party. None of the other parties could achieve this percentage of votes. It is because the reactionaries, rightist parties and the revisionist parties have no confidence in the masses and the masses do not trust these parties. Our party, during the decade long People's War and the 19 day People's Movement played a major role; because of our experience in the past in forming a new government in the countryside, the masses had hope only in the CPN-Maoist. So they voted for us to write a new constitution.

There are so many problems before the future government, and people feel very hopeful toward the CPN-M, What agendas will be prioritised in the new constitution to address the aspiration and needs of the people?

The major questions to be addressed in the new constitution has been already laid down in our commitment paper. Most importantly, the demand of the Revolution and of the Nepalese people is to overthrow the monarchy and establish a Federal Democratic Republic (FDR). Definitely, we will have a good position in the Assembly and our party will be able to win over other forces. We are in favour of writing the new constitution in a specific form of FDR.

Also, there are some basic questions that have to be solved. The question of livelihood and overall development of the society is very important because there is severe poverty in the society. We have to meet the necessity and basic requirements of the masses. Immediately, we have to fulfil all these necessary basic requirements. Definitely, there are unequal treaties that had been signed during the past and we have to review them. Some of them have to be renegotiated; we have to review all those treaties. The treaties should be signed on an equal basis. There are some problems of how to manage the New Democratic Republic. Because the bourgeois will definitely try to sabotage this process; the class that has been defeated will try to return to power. They will create problems whenever they can, they will find some excuses for that, there is the atmosphere to create problems.

On the basis of priority, we have to address all these questions. For example, first of all, politically, it is necessary to overthrow the monarchy and establish a Federal Democratic People's Republic in our sense. And, secondly, we have to resolve the basic economic problems of the society and we have to overcome the poverty of the people. It is necessary to fulfil the basic requirements of the masses.

In the developed new situation CPN-M has to make diplomatic relationship with other countries. What will be the basic principle for deplomatic relationship?

The basic principles will be the five principles of co-existence. That is the basis of state to state international relation. Another fundamental aspect of it is we have to develop the relationship with other states or governments, with the national interest of Nepal as its first priority. Definitely, we should have to develop the relation with all the country. The basis will be in the largest interest of the Nepalese people and the nation.

These two things, as has been explained by the United Nations Organization, the basic five principles of co-existence and the largest interest of Nepalese people and our Nation are the fundamental criteria of the diplomatic relationship.

CPN-M is going to the government. How will you handle the controversial relationship between state to state relationship and party relationship among Communist parties and organizations of the world?

Definitely, when we will be in the government, we will have to handle these two types of relationship. Because we are Communists and our party is a Communist party; we have as our goal the transition from socialism to communism. We have not given up our goal. We are moving in that direction. We are Internationalists because we are Communists. So the relation with other Communist parties will be developed on the basis of Proletarian internationalism. And, without interfering in the affairs of any Communist Party, our relationship will develop on the basis of proletarian internationalism.

So far as state to state relationship is concerned, on the basis of five principles of peaceful co-existence, the relation will develop between state to state. To carry on both the relationship will not be a big problem because we have learnt so many lessons from the Communist parties that were previously in power. For example, the Bolshevik party was in the power The Chinese Communist Party was in power and they maintained their relationship with different states and also the relation with other communist parties. We shall not compromise or negotiate our ideology and politics- in the name of being in government; we will never negotiate our fundamental principles, our ideology and politics.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Why do the US and India want to see the YCL dissolved? It is clear enough; without the YCL it will be easy to carry out a military coup, but with the YCL it is impossible, as the YCL control the streets and the masses are with them. By not joining a Maoist led government and by continuously creating obstacles for the Maoists, the Nepali Congress and the CPN UML are speeding towards their own destruction, as they will be completely swept away by Janandolan.

Maoist chairman Prachanda today said there is a possibility of counter-revolution in the country because of growing differences among the parties.

"I'm saying this sincerely.there is a possibility of counter-revolution in the country," Prachanda said during a picnic programme organised by Human Rights Concern Centre at Matatirtha, Kathmandu.

Alluding to the recent reactions of Nepali Congress and CPN-UML leaders to the Maoist victory in the polls, Prachanda said the reluctance of "some parties" in accepting the people's mandate has given rise to the possibility of counter-revolution in the country.

"Those who had not anticipated this kind of election result are finding it difficult to accept the mandate of the people," the Maoist chairman said, adding that huge masses should take to the streets across the country from May 27 to 29 as the first sitting of the Constituent Assembly on May 28 is set to abolish monarchy and declare the country a republic. He said reactionaries could try to stage a counter-revolution during this period.

Prachanda cautions against giving political colour to Koteshwore incident

Maoist chairman Prachanda has issued a statement cautioning all concerned against giving 'political colour' and permitting 'fishing in troubled waters' regarding the incident of killing of a local trader of Koteshwore.

Prachanda has expressed deepest condolences to the family of Ramhari Shrestha, who was killed by some Maoist cadres a few days ago.

Shrestha, who was a Maoist sympathizer, was reportedly killed by some Maoist cadres after abducting him under accusations that he stole their money.

In the statement, Prachanda has said his party had initiated investigation over the killing. Rejecting any institutional hand of Maoist party or People's Liberation Army (PLA) in the incident, Prachanda said his party was willing to cooperate with police investigation to take action against the culprits. "We are shocked by his killing by conspiracy of some selfish elements that had infiltrated our party," he states in the statement.

Meanwhile, relatives of Shrestha and local resident of Koteshwore have continued agitation protesting the killing. They have started agitation since Friday and on Sunday, too, they have blocked traffic movement in and around Koteshwore. They are also preparing to submit a memo to Prime Minister demanding action against the killers

Saturday, May 17, 2008

A senior Maoist leader has blasted Nepali Congress (NC) and Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) for demanding that the Young Communist League (YCL) be dissolved.

Ram Bahadur Thapa aka Badal Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal, addressing a programme in Chitwan, Saturday, said, “Such demands for dissolution of YCL are results of unbalanced mindset.”He added that if they continue demanding dissolution of YCL, his party would also demand dissolution of NC and UML, which, he claimed, were responsible in the past for the deaths of 10,000 people in the conflict.

He, however, said that the parties could make demands for taking action against YCL cadres who have erred.Badal said his party will also cooperate in taking action against erring YCL cadres.

Kathmandu, May 17 - CPN-Maoist Chairman Prachanda Saturday said that the threat of regressive forces still exist and allege the Nepali Congress (NC) of encouraging such forces.

Prachanda said that the NC has failed to give up the reins of the government instead of accepting its defeat in the Constituent Assembly elections and added that such activities have benefited the palace’s entities.

Speaking at a programme in the capital today, the Maoist Chairman pointed out the presence of an act in the interim parliament through which the Prime Minister can submit his resignation to the Speaker of the interim parliament and claimed that PM Koirala has acted against the people’s mandate by not tendering his resignation.

Prachanda also strongly criticised the terms recently put forward by the NC for co-ordination between the two parties during the formation of the next government.

Speaking at the programme organised by National Human Rights Concern Centre, Maoist leader and Minister for Physical Planning Hisila Yami claimed that human rights were respected and implemented more in Nepal than even in the US.

Former Indian envoy to Nepal Dev Mukherjee 'cautioned' his government against what he called a game being played by the US against the Maoists in Nepal. He said this might lead to strong Chinese reaction, Kantipur daily reported.

According to the daily, Mukherjee, while speaking at a seminar in New Delhi on "Emerging Situation in Nepal : Policy Options for India" organised by Observer Research Foundation, a foreign policy think tank, on Friday, said India must be cautious about the US game in Nepal.

Stating that US government has been trying to deny legitimacy to Maoist led government in Nepal, he said this could lead to instability due to possible reactions by China, given the situation in Tibet.

Mukherjee claimed that US officials in Kathmandu and some people within the Nepali Congress party have been suggesting Prime Minister Girija Koirala to lead the next government and not hand over the leadership to the CPN (Maoist) which has emerged as the largest party through recent elections.

Terming the refusal of Koirala to step down from prime minister's office is against the people's mandate and that it would lead to a constitutional crisis in Nepal.

Speaking at the same programme, CPI leader D. Raja stressed on the need to review the treaty with Nepal as it has done with Bhutan last year. "I don't think the Indian government will have any objections," he said.

Mike Ely of Kasama also writes about the continuation of another game against CPN Maoist the terrorist labelling of CPN Maoist by US Government"

The Deputy Spokesperson for the US State Department, Tom Casey,talking to journalists on Wednesday May 15, 2008, made it clear thatthe Nepal Maoists had never been a "foreign terrorist organization, "as designated; they were rather in the "terrorist exclusion list" thathas implications on consular issues, visas and other kinds of matters."

This is a rather startling claim after the U.S. government and itsrepresentatives have denounced the Maoists as terrorists for years.For example here is a State Department statement from just last week:

"Although the Government of Nepal no longer considers the Maoists tobe terrorists, the U.S. Government's designation of the CommunistParty of Nepal (Maoist) as a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist"organization under Executive Order 13224 and its inclusion on the"Terrorist Exclusion List" pursuant to the Immigration and NationalityAct remain in effect. These two designations make Maoists excludablefrom entry into the United States and bar U.S. citizens fromtransactions such as contribution of funds, goods, or services to, orfor the benefit of, the Maoists. "

The fact that the Maoists of Nepal are designated as "terrorists" inany way remains a lie and an outrage.

Democracy and Class Struggle says these are again testing times for the CPN Maoist and it is important that they continue to hold the strategic initiative on the question of the formation of the government following their resounding Electoral victory.

They also need to maintain discipline amongst the YCL and Party members so that unforseen local events do not blow them of course.The countdown to the Republic will bring disparate opposition elements together and the US will not fail to maximise any opportunity to undermine CPN Maoist has history has demonstrated.However the CPN Maoist has a history of concrete analyisis of concrete conditions to guide their response to challenges but vigilance has to be the watchword prior to declaration of Republic.

Friday, May 16, 2008

A senior leader of the Maoists Dr Baburam Bhattarai has asked the traders and entrepreneurs to join hands with his party for economic progress of the country.

Speaking at the 32th Annual General Meeting of the Birgunj Chambers of Commerce and Industries (BCCI) in Birgunj, Friday, Dr Bhattarai urged the business community to forget the past incidents and concentrate on economic progress of Nepal henceforth.

He said his party is committed to industrial peace. Alleging that monarchy was the obstruction to Nepal's economic progress for the last 250 years, Dr Bhattarai said his party will always maintain peaceful environment in industries.

Dr Bhattarai further said his party, after formation of new government, will announce industrial sector as the peace zone.

Stating that people's mandate was for Maoists to lead the new government, Dr Bhattarai said they are ready to work with Madhesi parties

KATHMANDU, May 16 - Senior Maoist leader CP Gajurel Friday said that his party is capable of running the government even without the support of the United States.

Speaking at a press conference scheduled at Sindhuli district headquarters in Sindhuli Madi today, Gajurel, who is also the Maoist foreign department, claimed that the Maoists can run the government in a smooth manner as Nepal has been getting more support from other countries than the US.

He went on to blame that the US has been against the Maoist since the signing of the 12-point pact that ended the 10-year long Maoists insurgency. He also remarked that the US was against the peace process in Nepal.

However, the US Ambassador to Nepal Nancy J Powell had told Speaker Subash Nemwang last month that the US will continue its assistance to new Maoist-led govt.

The CPN-Maoist formally laid down weapons in 2006 ending the ten-year long armed insurgency and joined the interim coalition government last year.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

KATHMANDU, Jan 15 - Maoist deputy commander Nanda Kishor Pun ‘Pasang’ Thursday said that the Maoist youth front Young Communist League (YCL) would not be dissolved just because a few political parties demanded it.

Speaking at a programme in the capital today, Pasang said that the Maoist army would not be disbanded as they have played a very important role since the beginning of the Maoists’ people’s war right up to the peace process.

He also alleged that the preconditions set by other political parties to dissolve the Maoist army before joining the Maoist-led government was an attempt to disrupt the peace process.

The Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML have put forth the preconditions that the YCL should be dissolved and the Maoists should change their activities before they join the Maoist-led government.

Six persons were injured in a bomb explosion in Rautahat district headquarters Gaur Wednesday afternoon.

Four persons detonated a crude bomb at a medicine store and immediately fled the scene, reports said.

Four of the injured persons have been identified as Pramod Karna, Parwati Devi, Khem Chandra Kandewal and Pawan Kumar. They have been taken to Narayani Sub-regional Hospital in Birgunj for treatment.

An armed outfit called Terai Army has claimed responsibility for the blast

Democracy and Class Struggle says this clearly is part of an attempt at destabilisation of Nepal, it is important that CPN Maoist keeps the strategic initiative in the coming days has separatists and monarchists unite with outside forces in an attempt to take the initiaive from CPN Maoist.

YCL's central meeting had concluded last week deciding to increase its strength to 1 million members within a year.

"We saw it necessary to build an outfit comprising of young volunteers so as to realize the dream of a civilized and highly cultured Nepal in a 100 years time," Maoist central member cum YCL in-charge Kul Prasad KC told Kantipur Daily.

YCL general secretary Dilip Kumar Prajapati said that if their parent party, CPN-Maoist, goes on to form the government, then YCL would actively involve itself in security including other areas. He said that they would also commit themselves to big government projects to help bring about the "economic revolution" the party has promised.

"We would determine our strategy based on the kind of government that would be formed," Prajapati told the daily adding, "for that the central working committee meeting would take place once the government is formed."

YCL claims that till now more than half a million people have already taken its membership. Among them some 450,000 are said to be ordinary and around 50,000 are active cadres. Some 6 to 7 thousand among them are whole timers.

CPN Maoist Chairman Prachanda on Tuesday revealed that a message has been passed on to King Gyanendra, suggesting that he leave the Narayanhiti Palace by May 27.

Talking to reporters in Ilam, after attending a meeting of the Maoist party's Limbuwan State Council, Prachanda warned that Gyanendra could face forceful eviction from the palace if he refused to quit voluntarily.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

In a sign that the Maoist leadership is fast losing their patience against Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, CPN-M's senior leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai has said the octogenarian leader should immediately resign from his post in order to give "a political outlet" to the confusing situation that prevails in the country.

Addressing a programme organised by the Kaski chapter of the Maoist aligned Revolutionary Journalist's Association (RJA) in Pokhara today that after the PM tenders his resignation to the speaker "the door for the formation of a new government would immediately spring open".

This is the first time that a top Maoist leader has publicly asked for the resignation of PM Koirala, making clear of their discontent towards him and his party.

The remarks also come at a time when Nepali Congress and another mainstream left CPN-UML have decided not to join the new government and have set preconditions - dissolution of Maoist people's army, and youth organisation YCL - for their support to a government led by Maoists.

Bhattarai was also of the opinion that Nepali Congress has blocked the political outlet by belittling the election result which came in favor of his party CPN-Maoists.

At a time when it is being said that the king is expecting that he would be afforded some sort of ceremonial role, Bhattarai said that his party won't accept any form of monarchy. He also lambasted the media for misquoting his earlier statement. He said that he never meant that the party will allow him to remain as a "cultural king", but had instead said that if abdicated then he would be given all the rights enjoyed by any citizen of the country.

Bhattari said that no challenge remains for the implementation of republic and that the country would be declared a republic by May 28.

"But if the King still doesn't agree leave the palace after this declaration then force would be used against him," he said, adding that along with the institution of monarchy the pro-monarchist would also bite the dust, clearly hinting at the recent statement of Kamal Thapa that the country would face a grave accident if it is declared a republic.

CPN-Maoist Chairman Prachanda Sunday said that Maoists will move forward with coordination among the parties stating that the general Nepali public voted for the Maoists to give continuation to the culture of peace, change and coordination.

Speaking at a programme organised in the capital by the Maoist to welcome the newly appointed leadership of the Federation of Nepalese Journalist,

Prachanda expressed commitment that his party will respect press freedom at all times.

The Maoist supremo also said that it was his desire to make the former rebels a completely democratic party by bestowing the press with complete freedom.

“The Nepali people voted in favour of peace, change and continuation of co-ordination among the parties in the CA polls,” said Prachanda.

Prachanda also accepted that Maoists have been responsible for wrongdoings against the journalists in the past and said that the right to information and the press act will be implemented after the formation of the next government.

The seven-party alliance (SPA) has held joint discussion with 18 others parties that have their representatives in the newly elected Constituent Assembly (CA) on key topics including the initial proceedings of the CA.

Speaking during the meeting at the Parliament Secretariat in Singha Durbar Sunday evening, most SPA leaders called for political consensus in the constitution-making process and emphasised that the first CA meeting should declare the country a republic.

Saturday, May 10, 2008

I have just finished reading this book and strongly recommend anyone with an interest in Mao Zedong to buy it and read it.

Understanding Mobo Gao's Mao Zedong will help people better understand why the Nepalese and People all over the world hold Mao Zedong in such high regard as one of the 20th Century's great leaders and thinkers.

Mao and Maoism have got a bad press in the West as result of Jung Chang and Li Zhisui. This book is a definitive refutation of the "Unknown Mao" and has an excellent chapter on the doctoring of history by Li Zhisui and hence kills two enemies with one sword.

Apart from new information on the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution that will help clear up distortions of Mao's position on these events. There are two chapters on the Electronic Media and the Information on Chinese Bloggers and Chinese Websites that have become vehicles for a vigourous defence of Mao Zedong by participants in the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural revolution whose memories while erased from "official history" have surfaced on the internet.

Truth is a process and that process has began on the Chinese Web - buy this book and make sure people in the West have access to the new information Mobo Gao has painstakingly unearthed.

It deserves to be read by millions has an antidote to Jung Chang and Li Zhisui but it will not be promoted by the BBC or Al Jazeera and the US government has Jung Changs Book was - just by honest readers who place a premium on the truth.

REPLY TO COMRADE FROM PARISAR FOR DETAILS OF BOOK AND SITES IN CHINA THAT SUPPORT MAOThe Battle for China's Past - Mao and the Cultural Revolution by Mobo Gao is published by Pluto Press - they have a site at